TO THE EDITOR:

I must take issue with my friend David Boyd’s cartoon of Cindy Sheehan.

As a mother and as a patriotic American, I think it disrespectful (no matter what your opinion of this war may be) to portray her as a puppet of anyone!

Those on the right may well feel that she is being programmed by those on the left. But how would David or anyone else who has not felt her grief or pain know this?!

She has paid the ultimate sacrifice for our country. She has given her son. All she wishes are some reasonable answers to the questions that she holds in her head and in her heart. I do not think that she is asking too much.

It has been my understanding that the latest reason we are supposedly waging war on this country was in the name of democracy. Does this not mean that one has the right to express one’s opinions, feelings and questions without being shown as some sort of mindless puppet?

I hurt for all these family members whose sons and daughters will never be coming home or else due to emotional or physical injuries will never be the same. Forever these families will be altered and changed.

If they are asking questions and want answers from our leaders, I do not think we should diminish them in any way. They deserve whatever solace or comfort we can muster.

They deserve no less.

GAIL BOYD Experiences day of community spirit, concern TO THE EDITOR: Experiences

I experienced a day of community spirit and concern for a fellow citizen’s well-being in Wilkes County.

At approximately 3:15 p.m. on Friday, August 12, I was approaching Washington on Highway 78 on my way home to the North Georgia mountains from Columbia, S.C., when I created a foolish, single vehicle accident.

In the span of a few seconds, I managed to destroy our Ford Explorer. My only other passenger was “Sam,” our female Lab of 10 years, who raced away from the accident in a panic. What followed in the next few minutes is a testimony to the human spirit and a testimony to the community spirit of the people in Wilkes County.

My accident had been luckily witnessed by Mike Powell, an off-duty EMT/Firefighter, and so help was called and immediately arrived – EMT crew, Deputy Young, Patrolmen Bailey and Markson, Mike Powell, and passerby Lawrence Burton.

Some of those on the scene had responsibilities to perform and went right to work on accomplishing those. It was soon determined that I had sustained only cuts and bruises and was not significantly injured. So I opted to remain at the scene, realizing that I needed to be there to look for Sam and at least be able to keep her under control once I located her since she was in a strange surrounding.

I had placed a call to my daughter in Columbia following the accident and so knew she was en route. As the response teams completed their work, they began to depart the scene, as would be expected. That’s when the “extra mile” efforts began to appear.

Mike Powell, who had work appointments in the area, constantly checked back with me and, if time was available between appointments, he would walk the woods and fields looking for Sam. Patrolman Bailey brought me a bottle of water; Lawrence Burton advised the neighbors of Sam’s disappearance and brought me cold drinks as well as a bucket of water for Sam, who eventually returned around 6 p.m; just before my daughter’s arrival. She was uninjured.

My wife and I returned to Washington on Wednesday, August 17, and with the help of Wills Memorial Hospital employee Oressia Graves who led me to Anna Norman, the Director of Human Resources, was able to get the names of some of the Knights in Shining Armor who came to assist Sam and me in our ordeal.

So I stand in salute to all of you . . . those of you who came and performed your tasks; those who were just plain helpful but especially to those “extra milers.”

Wilkes County must be a great place to live! PAT RUSH Jasper, Ga.

Thanks for successful blood drive

TO THE EDITOR:

The August Community Blood Drive conducted by the Wills Memorial Hospital Auxiliary and Shepeard Community Blood Center was the best we have had since 9/11.

More than 72 persons came to donate blood on August 18. This is fantastic. Many first time donors came as well as our regular standbys. In addition to the 72, several had responded to Shepeard’s emergency call during the last three weeks. successful blood drive

Wilkes Countians are the very best, most generous, and compassionate people to be found anywhere.

In November, please come back and bring your colleagues at work, your neighbors and friends. Let’s reach 100! The need is critical.

The News-Reporter deserves a thank you for excellent publicity. ELEANOR BLACKMON, CATHY STACKHOUSE

ALMA FERRELL WMH AUXILIARY

It’s easy to get hooked on fascinating mules TO THE EDITOR:

I have read with much interest the comments in The Office Cat about mules.

Since Jerry and I raise mules and sell them at auction, we know quite a bit about them, so I thought I would share some of what we have learned about them.

You can, indeed, have males and females. Male mules are usually called horse mules and female mules are usually called mare mules. The males definitely have the same instincts as a male horse; the only difference is they are sterile, so most people have them castrated, same as a horse, so they won’t have to deal with that part of nature.

Mules are derived from breeding a mare horse to a jack. In order to get the desired qualities of a good riding animal, most people look for a good quarter horse mare and breed to a Mammoth Jack, to get the size and confirmation that you would want for a saddle mule.

Mules are hybrids and have an odd number of chromosomes, which make them unable to reproduce. One popular choice today is the gaited mule, obtained through breeding with gaited horses.

Good saddle mules are the “hot thing” in the equine business, these days. We conduct two auctions in June of each year in two Western states, which are made up entirely of quality saddle mules. This year, the top selling mule at the Montrose, Colorado, auction was $13,500.00, and the top selling mule in the Powell, Wyoming, auction was $14,750.00.

In addition to the auctions, we have an all-mule rodeo at each event. Good saddle mules can do anything a horse can do, and we have all the events you would see at a regular rodeo. The current trend of replacing horses with mules will probably be around for a while as more and more people realize the advantage of using mules.

Because of the placement of their eyes on their heads, they are able to see all four feet and as a result, are more careful, or what we would call sure-footed, making them an excellent choice for transportation in the mountains.

We have found that you are less likely to get injured on a mule because they take better care of themselves, which means they take better care of you, and they don’t tend to get as excited as a horse under unusual circumstances.

In addition to owning an auction company, we also have an outfitting business and we take clients on three-day camping trips in the National Forest surrounding the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.

We take people in on mules; cook meals over open fire, and provide teepee style cowboy tents for them. All you need to do is take one mare horse in with you; picket her and all the mules will stay with the mare. We call her our babysitter.

Mules are fascinating animals, and easy to get hooked on! We have been going on pack trips ourselves in Wyoming for about the past 10 years and it is our choice of vacations. There is nothing like getting way back in the mountains away from civilization to relax.

RAMONA NEWSOME KING

Fletcher, N.C. Wonderful people are among us TO THE EDITOR:

My name is Kipp McAvoy and I have had the great pleasure of meeting some very wonderful people who live right here among us.

The town may be small but some of the hands that helped my family and me have got the biggest hearts and I would like to say thank you. You and your hands were very much appreciated in all your efforts.

My husband is Keith McAvoy. Many of you know our son Trey through baseball and school. Trey was recently invited to join a boys travel baseball team and we truly wanted him to go and live a dream he could carry with him the rest of his life. But we have three other children besides Trey. They are Tad, Tucker, and Tamara, and it costs money to be on a travel team requiring uniforms, equipment and an entry fee.

I did what any parent would do in such a case as this. I turned to friends, Mr. Marvin (Hoppy) and Miss Oleta McAvoy, who in turn got the ball rolling.

Suddenly what we needed started to come in and now Trey, who had many helping hands helping, is now on the travel team. Along with Trey on the baseball team is Desmond (D.J.) Barnett, son of Jackie Barnett, both of whom live in WashingtonWilkes. Others on the team are from surrounding counties.

I just wanted to let these helping hands know how grateful I am and how blessed we are to know them. They are Mr. and Mrs. Marvin (Hoppy) McAvoy, Mr. Kerry McAvoy, Mr. and Mrs. Lee Connell, Mr. and Mrs. David McAvoy, Dr. Erick Pagan, Mike McAvoy, Mrs. Pat Thornton, Broad River Soil & Water Conservatoin District, and others who are anonymous.

Thank you all for your hearts and your hands.

THE McAVOYS Outstanding care provided at WMH much appreciated

TO THE EDITOR:

I want to express my appreciation for the outstanding medical care received during my recent illness.

First, to the ambulance personnel who took me to Wills Memorial Hospital, then to the kind staff in the emergency room, and the nurses during my overnight stay. Their kindness and compassion were wonderful. Next, my appreciation to the doctor who prayed with me before left for University Hospital.

A very special thank you to Dr. David Kirk and his staff for their care after my return home.

Washington is very fortunate to have Wills Memorial Hospital.

JOAN POLKER WMH provides critical care; must stay open

TO THE EDITOR:

My husband recently experienced chest pain and was sent to Wills Memorial Hospital Emergency Room by his doctor, Dr. Kuppuswamy.

Immediate treatment was begun per Dr. Kupps’ orders. If we had had to drive out-of-town, his outcome would not have been the same.

We are so fortunate to have a hospital in Washington. It is vital that we keep it open.

Thanks to the Wills Memorial Hospital staff for such courteous and professional care.

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